January 13, 2016 – January 16, 2016
Breckenridge's celebration of snow, tradition and more fun than you can handle.

Description

Schedule

Lodging

History

Winners

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Ullr Fest celebrates 53 years this Jan. 13-16, 2016 and Breckenridge invites snow lovers of all ages to join the party. During Ullr Fest in Breckenridge, don’t be surprised to see horned Viking hats adorning the heads of skiers and snowboarders, Ullympic competitors flinging frying pans for prizes, more than 12,000 Ullr enthusiasts filling the streets for the Ullr Parade and crazy float participants skiing off jumps on Main Street or gliding along town in a hot tub. Join us to rejoice with Ullr himself. Ullr is ready for a good party. In Norse mythology Ullr (pronounced Oool-er) was the winter god. He was the son of Sif and the stepson of Thor, the "God of Thunder." Ullr loved the cold, and delighted in traveling over the country on his skis or skates. He also delighted in the chase, and pursued his game through the Northern Forests.

Produced by GoBreck and presented by Bud Light. Sponsored by KSMT 'The Mountain', Breckenridge Ski Resort, Town of Breckenridge and Summit Daily News.

Monday, January 12

Crowning of the Ullr King and Queen: (5 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) at the Breckenridge Nordic Center - Free Bud Light to the first 100 attendees

Tuesday, January 13

Ullympics (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) Partake in wild events such as the frying pan toss, group ski racing and ski boot relay. Email events@gobreck.com to register. Starts at 7:00pm in Carter Park and you must sign up in advance. FREE located at 300 South High Street, Breckenridge, CO 80424

Wednesday, January 14

Breck’s Got Talent (Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Show at 7:00 p.m.) – Join local radio station, Always Mountain Time, for a town-wide talent show. For more information or to register contact johnny@alwaysmountaintime.com. Riverwalk Center, located at 150 W. Adams St. Join us for an evening of free fun and if you are of age, your first Bud Light is on the house!

Thursday, January 15

Ullr Parade (4:30 p.m.) – The centerpiece of the week, the Ullr Fest parade showcases Breckenridge’s wild winter fun. Main Street Breckenridge. Don’t miss the 2015 Ullr Shot Ski Attempt at 4:00 just prior to the parade. ($5 donation to Breckenridge Rotary, must be 21, bring ID). Registration for the Shot Ski will be day of in the Riverwalk Center starting at 1:00pm.

Parade Registration is closed, but it is not too late to be part of the fun. Anyone can still participate; just arrive at the staging area on N. Main St. at the intersection of French St. and Main between the hours of 3:00pm and 4:30pm. Participation is free and we would love for you to join us.

Have some skis you'd like to donate to the record breaking Ullr Shot Ski? The more we get, the longer it can be and you can be part of it by dropping your old skies off at the Breckenridge Distillery located at 1925 Airport Road, Breckenridge, CO

Friday, January 16

Comedy Night (7:00 p.m. Doors Open, Show at 8:00 p.m.) – Comedy Works comics descend on Breckenridge for a night of big laughs. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave. Admission $25, tickets are available at the Welcome Center.

And...

ULLR BIKE, presented by Borealis Bikes - Friday evening January 16, race your Fat Bike at Gold Run Nordic Center in the first ever Ullr Bike festivities; multiple laps on a 3 mile figure 8 loop immediately adjacent to the Nordic Center Lodge.
Enjoy food, drink and great camaraderie! Industry reps will be on hand with demos!
Racing starts at 5:00 and 4 categories will be offered, Open Men, Open Women, Singlespeed Men, and Singlespeed Women. Headlamps or lighting system required. Event will be chip timed! Entry Fee is $30 and will include the beer, soup, and giveaways!
Also, ride your bike in the FREE parade down Main St. on Thursday January 15 at 4:30pm (optional but strongly encouraged)!
For all Event Details visit mavsports.com

Saturday, January 17

SYRCL Wild and Scenic Film (6:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.) – High Country Conservation Center and Continental Divide Land Trust are partnering to bring the film festival to Breckenridge. HCCC and CDLT share complementary missions of resource and land conservation. We are excited to come together to bring the community thought-provoking and beautiful films to inspire involvement and action. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave. $15.00 For more information and to buy tickets click here.

Breckenridge offers packages to satisfy the needs of winter travelers. Breckenridge packages can include lodging, air and ground transportation, activities, event passes, lift tickets and trips to the spa. Choose from our many package offerings or custom build your own package.

During our Mountain Madness Sale you will save up to 50% on our most popular ski destinations. Vacations should be anything but ordinary and most of your experience depends on where you stay. Homes, condos, and vacation rentals are the perfect choice for experiencing your mountain getaway as it was meant to be. Browse available vacation rentals online or call one of our Local Destination Experts for personalized travel advice.

The History Behind Ullr

Ullr was so well skilled in the use of the bow and could go so fast on his skis that in these arts no one could best him. Each winter he covered the earth with snow to protect it from harm. It has been said that Ullr enjoyed the cold weather and loved traveling throughout the land, gliding along on his great skis, for pleasure and hunting.

It is also said that Ullr was such a great skier, he would streak across the sky leaving the brilliant stars as his trails (they obviously had some fine powder days). Though very skilled, Ullr guarded his knowledge closely and refused to show the other gods how to ski. Luckily for us, he let the secret out of the bag, and we will all be soon celebrating his glory. Next time you are trying to bash through some wind crust or plunge head first into fresh waist deep powder, be sure to invoke his name and remember - ULLR RULES!

One of Ullr’s travels found him in Breckenridge, Colorado. Breckenridge seemed a likely place for Ullr to settle down, since he wasn’t looking to return to Norway any time soon. Ullr fit right in and took to the mountains. And every year, Ullr blesses Breckenridge with some of the finest snow in the world.

To repay Ullr for his gift of snow, we here in Breckenridge hold a festival to honor the god of winter. We call this little celebration Ullr Fest. This fantastic party all started back in 1963 when a few of the locals heard that Ullr was in town. Well, they wanted to let him know how much Breck appreciated Ullr’s gift of snow, so they went to the Town Council and lobbied to start…‘Ullr Dag’ (Ullr Day in English). The first few years of the event were hailed with locals honoring Ullr with gold coins, parties, skiing, and oh – don’t forget the parties.

As the years went on, traditions were formed such as the Ullr Ball, the Ullr Bonfire, the Ullr Parade, Snow Sculpting, Ullr King and Queen, the Ullympics and the Ullr Dating Game. Some traditions have stayed, such as snow sculpting, which has become its own event called the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Other traditions have gone by the wayside.

From fake currency to burning old skis in the bonfire, Ullr Fest has always been about fun and partying…and Breckenridge knows how to hold a “killer party, dude.” Just ask any of the locals.

Ullr Fest continues throughout the week with games, parties and more.

Ullr Fest Winners 2012 - 49 and Doing Fine!

First Place

– “2012: Year of the Snow Dragon” by Breckenridge Grand Vacations

Second Place

– “We Look Good for Our Age” by Vail Resorts, Breck Street Team

Third Place

– “Winter Neverland” by Lucha

The weeklong festival pays homage to Ullr (rhymes with cooler), the Norse god of snow, in hopes of bringing additional snowfall to Breckenridge and the surrounding peaks. Festivities include one of the world’s wildest parades, a town bonfire, wacky Ullympic competitions and more. Since the start of the festival on Jan. 8, Breckenridge has received 11 inches of snow.

For more information on Ullr Fest and Breckenridge’s upcoming events, the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships and Mardi Gras, contact the Breckenridge Resort Chamber at 877.593.5260. For those who built Ullr floats, keep in mind they can be easily retrofitted for the upcoming Mardi Gras parade.

Because we are the official Breckenridge Central Reservations, we offer a wide variety of lodging deals in Breckenridge. Book your Breckenridge vacation here! View our interactive online map to find the best Breckenridge lodging suited for your needs. You can reserve anything from Breckenridge lodging, vacation homes, condos, hotels and Bed and Breakfasts. We offer incredible discount rates on last minute lodging in Breckenridge, Colorado and have great vacation packages that you can book online.